A History of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei

The complex social, political and economic problems which Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei face in the late 1980s are seen from a historical perspective in this very readable account. Mary Turnbull traces events in the area from first occupation 50,000 years ago, through the rise of Melaka as an important trade centre, the impact of colonialism and the growth of British interest in the 18th and 19th centuries, to the separation of Singapore from the Federation of Malaysia and the dilemmas of the present day. Readership - students of South East Asian history. Mary Turnbull, until recently Professor of History at the University of Hong Kong, has produced a stimulating book which will be of particular interest to students, business people and tourists, but also to those general readers who want to gain a greater understanding of Asia today.